Weather-seal guide and counterbalance assembly for removable window sash



F eb. 26, 1963 WEATHER-smlxrr Filed Oct. 28, 1959 R, L. MARTlN 3,078,523 GUIDE AND COUNTERBALANCE ASSEMBLY R REMOVABLE WINDOW SASI-I/4 4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 26, 1963 R. l.. MARTIN 3,078,523

WEATHER-SEAL GUIDE AND COUNTERBALANCE ASSEMBLY FOR REMOVABLE WINDOW SASH Filed Oct. 28, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I R. BY /Pobe/ L Marfil?. fda/MW A TTRNE X /f/ Feb. 26, 1963 R. L. MARTIN 3,078,523

WEATHER-SEAL GUIDE AND COUNTERBALANCE ASSEMBLY FOR REMOVABLE WINDOW SASH Filed Oct. 28, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l un Il 38mm VIlll t MII! um N l 7 4 Il 28pm 2, 1V 3 q I V lll ww 56 1%;4 45585 M2 mi? 46 's 52 77 7 @5 HHH-41"" .'21 a 52 lweei 2. INVENTOR.

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Feb. 26, 1963 Filed Oct. 28, 1959 R, L.. MARTIN 3,078,523

WEATHER-SEAL GUIDE AND COUNTERBALANCE ASSEMBLY FOR REMOVABLE WINDOW lSASI-I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR. Rab erf/ Ma/'//l lping action.

United States Patent Oliiice 3,078,523 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 WEATHER-SEAL GUIDE AND COUNTERBALANCE ASSEMBLY FR REMVABLE WINDOW SASH Robert L. Martin, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to The Weatherproof Products Corporation, Holmes Parli,

Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Get. 23, i959, Ser. No. 849,344 Claims. (Cl. 20-52) This invention relates to weather-seal guide and counterbalance assemblies for double hung window sash, particularly for sash of the removable type.

ln modern windows, the sash are slidably mounted in combination weather-seal guides that are coextensive with the jambs at opposite sides of the window frame. One of the guides is usually attached to its jamb, While the other guide is movably contained in a recess at the opposite side of the frame and backed with respect to its jamb by a form of spring to establish a resilient weatherseal with the edge faces of the window sashes and at the same time provide for freely guided movement of the sash. The sash are usually counterbalanced by coil springs attached at their upper ends to the upper ends of the guides and at the lower ends to the sash.

This t3 pe of mounting is adapted for removal and replacement of the sash for cleaning, painting, and other purposes, because the yieldably backed guide permits sucient lateral movement of the sash to free the edge faces of the sash from the sashways to disconnect the sash from the balance springs. However, when the sash are disconnected, the springs fly back and jerk the sash connections out of position, so that they cannot be readily reconnected with the sash when the sash are to be replaced. If the springs are controlled to prevent snapback, the controls are usually gripping devices that are supposed to set and grip the guides automatically under action of the balance springs when the connections on the sash disengage from the balance springs, but the balance springs are so active that they usually y back before the gripping devices can set themselves. In some instances, separate springs are employed to set the gripping devices independently of the balance springs, and the locking devices are released by a trip engageable by a part of the sash connection when the sash are replaced. Again, the springs are subject to release by the trip before a satisfactory connection can be established between the balance springs and sash.

It is obvious that since the weather-seal guides should be constructed of substantially light, springy material for maintaining sealing contact between the frame and the sash, it has been difficult to establish a satisfactory gripping contact of the gripping device with the guide because of yieldability of the material from which the guides are constructed and back up of the carrier for the gripping device. Also, the guides are easily damaged by the grip- Consequently, the spring housings become scaried and deformed to an extent where the sash connections do not slide freely within the guides.

Various attempts have been made to overcome these difliculties, but in most instances the results have not been satisfactory because of complication in construction of the guides, high cost of manufacture, dilicult installation, and high installation cost.

The principal objects of the present invention are to overcome the above mentioned difficulties by providing a weather-seal guide and counterbalance assembly of simple, inexpensive construction, capable of assembly at the factory and installed on the job as a unit.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a single piece guide incorporating balance spring housing portions and sashway portions integrally connected by folds provided in a single elongated sheet metal strip of proper width; to provide opposite sides of the spring housing portions of the guides with longitudinal corrugations that enhance the rigidity of the folds that connect the sides of the spring housings with the sashway portions of the guides and which cooperate lwith the longitudinal folds producing substantial rigidity in the longitudinal direction of the guide while maintaining the transverse resiliency thereof for establishing sealing contact between the jamb and edge faces of the sash; to provide a guide construction that permits of shallow sashway portions for facilitating removal of the sash; to provide connections between the balance springs an-d sashes which include gripping devices or pawls pivotally connected in carriers that are attached to the balance springs and slide within the spring housing portions responsive to engagement of the gripping pawls by the connectors on the sash; to provide the corrugations in the sides of the spring housing portions to serve as guide grooves for guide ribs on the respective sides of the pawl carriers, whereby the carriers are rigidly supported in opposition to the reaction forces resulting from setting of the gripping pawls; to utilize the guide grooves for securing covers for closing the open sides of the spring housing portions that contain the spring balances for the inner sash and also for supporting stops at the top of the frame for limiting upward movement of the sash and prevent striking of the sash lock against the upper jamb; to provide the gripping pawls with springs that are separate and Operate independently of the balance springs to set the pawls; and to provide a connector part on the sash for automatically connecting the sash directly with the gripping pawls so that the sash may be inserted in any position in the frame, either above or below the level of the gripping pawls, and be automatically engaged therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide backing spring members that further support the guides in the longitudinal direction thereof but which allow for transverse flexibility necessary to maintain sealing contact with the edge faces of the window sash.

Another object of the invention is to provide weatherseal and spring balance units adapted for supporting a sash at both sides thereof, whereby the sash is freely suspended between the guides in a manner to reduce later pressure of the sash against the guides.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention as hereinafter pointed out, l have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: v

FIG. l is an elevational view, partly in section, of one side of a window equipped with a weather-seal and spring balance unit embodying the features of the present invention, the height of the figure being shortened by omitting sections therefrom, and the inner sash being shown in raised position, but with the movable guide in sealing contact therewith.

FlG. 2 is a similar View, but showing the parts of the wether-seal and spring balance assembly in compressed condition, as when the sash is moved laterally to permit removal thereof from the sashway at the opposite side of the window.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section through the window, the section through the outer sash being taken at one elevation and the section through the inner sash at a lower elevation, and illustrating the sashes connected with the balance springs and the guides in sealing contact with the edge faces of the sash.

FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 3, but showing the inner sash being removed.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the weatherseal guide, backing spring, guide retaining brackets, sash stop, and spring housing cover, shown in spaced apart relation to better illustrate the construction thereof.

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the carrier for pivotally supporting the gripping pawl, the carrier being viewed from the back side thereof.

FIG. 7 is a similar perspective view of the pawl carrier as viewed from the opposite or front side thereof.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section through a portion of one of the spring housing portions and the pawl carrier, showing the gripping pawl in gripping engage rent with the rear wall of the spring housing portion of the guide.

FlG. 9 is a similar fragmentary section, but showing a portion of the sash and the connector thereon in connected engagement with the gripping pawl and whereby the pawl is released and the sash is carried by the spring balance.

FlG. l is an enlarged transverse section showing the gripping pawl in plan View and supported against reaction thrust of the pawl.

FiG. ll is a section through an upper portion of one of the spring housing portions, particularly illustrating the cover for closing the open front thereof, the section being taken on the line l-ll of FIG. 13.

FlG. l2 is a perspective view of the gripping pawl.

FiG. 13 is a vertical section through the window, looking in the direction of the movable guide, with the sash in closed position and showing portions of the sashes and spring cover broken away to ybetter illustrate the location of the gripping pawl carriers and the connectors on the sash.

FG. 14 is a perspective view of a portion of the sash guide as viewed from the jamb side thereof.

FIG. l is a similar view of a portion of the guide as viewed from the sash side thereof.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary portion of the backing spring.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a sash stop and upper end portion of a spring cover as viewed from the jarnb sides thereof.

FlG. 18 is a perspective view of one of the sash connectors that is to be attached to the edge face of the sash.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The combination weather-seal and spring balance assemblies for a window includes a movable unit 1 and a fixed unit 2. The movable unit 1 includes a weatherseal and guide member 3, a resilient backing or spring member 4, balance springs 5, and upper and lower bracket members 6 and 7 as the principal parts thereof. The fixed unit 2 includes only a weather-seal and guide member 3 andbalance springs 5 as the principal parts thereof. The weather-seal and guide members 3 for the respective units are of identical construction, with the exception that they are rights and lefts, due to the inclination of the sill of a window.

The weather-seal and guide member 3 is separately illustrated in FIGS. 14 and l5 and is produced from a single strip of sheet material having the necessary width and length to provide a central parting stop portion 8, sashway portions 9 and 10 including spring housing portions 11 and 12, and outer side flange portions 13 and 14. The parting stop portion 8 has a web 15 corresponding with the width of an ordinary parting stop, and. relatively shallow side flanges 16 and 17 connected therewith by bends or folds 18. The side flanges 16 also constitute adjacent sides of the sashway portions 9 and 10.

The sashway portions each include inner and outer webs 19 and 20 that are spaced apart by the spring housing portions 11 and 12, the inner webs 19 being connected with the side flanges 16 by bends or folds 21, while the outer webs 20 have flanges 22 connected therewith by folds 23, the iianges 22 being of a depth corresponding to the depth of the inner side flanges 16. The side flanges 13 and 14 of the guide are connected with the anges 22 by return bends 24, whereby the side flanges extend along the lianges 22 for resiliently engaging the blind and finish stops of a window, as later described.

In order to promote contact of the flanges with the blind and finish stops, the free marginal edges thereof are cured inwardly as indicated at 2S.

The spring housing portions 11 and 12 have spaced apart side Walls 26 and 27 that connect with inner edges ofthe webs i9 and 21d by folds `.72.3, and formed in the side walls immediately adjacent the folds 2S are corrugetions 29 and 3i) providing inwardly facing grooves 3l and 32. r[he outwardly extending portions of the ribs 30 constitute means for retaining the resilient backing member d, as later to be described. l

The spring housing portions of the guide also include rear walls 34 that are connected with the side walls 26 and 27' by folds 35. Thus the spring housings have open fronts 3'7 across the entire width thereof. lt is obvious that a guide member folded as described has substantial rigidity in the longitudinal direction thereof, and particularly along the sides of the open fronts 37 by reason of the folds 28 and the adjacent corrugations 29 and 36, and this rigidity maintains the shape and dimensions of the open fronts of the spring housing portions. The guide members 3 when thus formed closely engage the blind and iinish stops of the window frame and form weathertignt seals therewith.

The upper ends of the guide members are cut at right angles with respect to the sides thereof, but the lower ends are cut on an angle corresponding to the slope of a window sill. The upper portions of the side walls 25 and 27 of the spring housing portions are provided with a vertical series of apertures 38 for passing pins 39 for anchoring upper ends of the spring balances 5. The upper and lower ends of the guide member of the fixed unit are provided in the rear walls of the spring housing portions with openings 4G to pass fastening devices such as screws 41 (FIG. 3) by which the fixed unit 2 is attached to the side jamb of the window frame, as later to be described.

With the construction as described, the spring housings constitute portions of each guide member and eliminate the time and labor necessary in producing separate spring housings and connecting them to the guide members. Also, the spring housing portions are outside of the sash- Ways 9 and l0, so that it is not necessary to provide the sash with the usual deep side grooves or to provide a relatively large movement of the movable unit when effecting clearance of the sash with respect to the spring housings.

Another important feature is the relatively shallow depth of the sashways and it?, so as to eliminate the relatively deep recessing of the side jamb. ln fact, recessing of the side jamb is not necessary, since ample space is provided within the depth of the ordinary blind and finish stops while maintaining ample sealing contact of the outer flanges 13 and 14 with the blind and finish stops, as best illustrated in FiGS. 3 and 4.

The counterbalance springs 5 comprise elongated coils having the endmost convolutions shaped to provide eyes 42 at their upper ends for passing the pins 39 therethrough and to provide hooks 43 at their lower ends for connecting sash carriers or slide members 44 that are reciprocated in the spring housing portions 11 and 12 responsive to raising and lowering of the sash under action of the balancing Springs 5, later to be described.

The resilient backing member 4- of the movable unit is also formed of a strip of sheet metal having spring-like characteristics to retain the shape thereof (see FIG. 16). The backing member includes a normally flat web portion 45 of a width to bridge the parting stop portion 8 of the guide member and overlie the inner web portions 19 of the sashways and terminate in bends 46 providing inwardly converging ange portions 48 and 49, which in turn terminate in laterally flaring wings Sil and 51, the outer edges of which are curved as at 52 to provide substantially linear bearing contacts 53 with the face of the side jarnb, as later to be described. The Wings 516 and 51 are connected with the inwardly `converging flanges by f olds 54 and 55 on which the wings are adapted to liex, as shown in FIG. 4. When the backing member 4 is applied to the guide member 3, the bends 46 engage under the adjacent corrugations 30 to retain the members in assembly. The resilient backing members 4 are of a length to extend substantially the full length of the guide member, and, while being resilient, form a substantially stable support for positioning and stabilizing the guide member in sealing Contact with the edges of the sash and to shift the sash into sealing contact with the xed unit at the opposite side of the frame.

The carriers or slide members '44 constitute an important part of the invention, and each carrier is of like construction. Each carrier ycomprises a body 56 which may be formed of any suitable material, preferably a synthetic plastic, such as nylon, and has substantially iiat side faces 57 and 53 adapted to slide upon the side walls 26 and 27 of the spring housing portions of the guide members, and substantially hat front and rear faces S9 and 60. Projecting from the side faces 57 and 58 are tongues 61 and 62 that slidably engage within the grooves 31 and 32 of the corrugations 29 and 30 to support the rear faces 60 in substantially close relation with the rear Walls 34 of the spring housings, and the front faces 59 in protrusion from the open fronts 37 of the spring housings and preferably slightly beyond the webs 19 and 20, as best shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, and 8 to 10, inclusive. The upper end of the body has an ear 63 having an aperture 64 for passing the hook 43 on the lower end of the counterbalancing springs, whereby the carriers or slide members are connected with the counterbalancing springs. The body of each carrier has a transverse opening 65 that extends through the front and rear faces 59 and 60 thereof to contain a gripping pawl or sash supporting member 66 and an actuating spring 67 therefor. The sides of the body of the carrier adjacent the opening 6e' have transverse slots 68 that extend inwardly from the rear face 60 to terminate short of the front face 59 in upwardly extending portions 69 having lateral terminals 70 at the upper ends thereof which are located in the body of the carrier above the opening 65. Extending downwardly from the slots 63 are recesses 71 and 72 forming seats for trunnions 74 and 75 on the gripping pawl 66.

The gripping pawl or sash supporting member 66 is best illustrated in FIG. l2, and includes a substantially flat blade portion 76 terminating in an angularly extending tail portion 77. Projecting from opposite sides of the blade portion 76 are the trunnions 74 and 75, each having a diameter to closely t within the recesses 71 and 72 (see FIGS. 8 to 10, inclusive). The outer end of the blade portion 76 is substantially flat and forms with the under side thereof a transverse linear tooth or gripping edge 7S, adapted to bite the inner surface of the metal constituting the rear walls of the spring housing portions of the guide members, as best shown in FIGS. 8 and l0. The blade portions thus are adapted to project from the opening 65 and the tail portions 77 are of a length to extend through the opposite end of the opening and project from the front face 59 of the carrier in all positions of the gripping pawl, as best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

rlhe gripping pawls are normally urged into gripping engagement with the rear walls of the spring housings by action of the springs 67. The springs 67 are preferably formed of dat leaf material and curved transversely, as indicated at 79, to provide ends 80 adapted to bear upon the blade portions 76 of the gripping pawls 66 and shank portions 81 that extend upwardly in the vertical portions 69 of the slots and terminate in hooks S2 which engage within the terminals 70.

The projecting ends 77 of the gripping pawls 66 support the window sash thereon by means of connectors 83 (see FlG. 18), which include plate portions 84 having apertures 85 for passing fastening devices such as nails 86. Extending from the lower end of the plate portion 84 of each connector 83 is a resilient tongue 87 terminating in a slightly rounding foot 88 which seats upon the projection 77 (see FIG. 9).

The brackets 6 and 7 are of angle shape to provide flanges 89 that are adapted to be secured to the jamb by fastening devices, such as nails 90, which are projected through openings 91 in the flanges. The other flanges 92 extend inwardly of the window frame, and the flange 92 of the bracket 7 carries upright ears 93 that engage the inner faces of the walls 34 of the spring housing portions of the guides. The tongues 94 are stamped from the inwardly projecting flange of the bracket 6 and inclined downwardly and outwardly for resiliently engaging the rear walls at the upper end of the guide.

Stops 9S are provided to limit upward movement of the inner sash and are formed of sheet metal stampings, as best shown in FIG. 17. The stops are of generally channel shape and have side flanges 96 and 97 carrying laterally directed lips 98 and 99 that engage within the grooves 31 and 32. The lower ends of the stops have an inwardly turned flange 100 against which the upper rim of the sash is adapted to abut. When the inner sash is in closed position, the balance springs 5 therefor would be exposed through the open fronts of the spring housings, however, these springs may be covered by strips 101 having laterally extending lip portions 102 and 103, also adapted to engage within the grooves 31 and 32, as shown in FIGS. 3, 11 and 13.

A window frame best adapted for the present invention includes side jambs 104 and 105 connected at their upper ends by a header jamb 106 and at their lower ends by a sill 107. Fixed to the outer edges of the jambs are blind stops 108 which cooperate with nish stops 109 that are attached to the inner edges of the jambs, for providing recesses 110 and 111 (FIGS. 3 and 4) in which the units 1 and 2 are respectively mounted to retain the upper and lower sash 112 and 113. The sash 112 and 113 may be of the usual type, but the edge faces thereof are plowed to provide relatively shallow grooves 114 for accommodating the projecting portions of the pawl carriers. The connectors 33 are secured within the bottoms of the sash grooves by fastening devices, such as nails 115, that are driven through the apertures 85 into the sash near the lower portions thereof.

The weather-seal and guide units for the respective sides of a window are assembled at the factory, so that they can be quickly and easily installed on the job with a minimum of skill and time. The gripping pawls 66 are inserted in the carriers therefor for passing the trunnions 74 and 75 through the open ends of the slots 68 until they drop into the recesses 71 and 72. The springs 67 may be inserted laterally through the horizontal and vertical portions of the slots, to seat the hooked ends S2 in the terminals 70 when the ends S0 thereof bear upon the blade portions 76 of the gripping pawls. Upon release of the springs, they revert to their normal shape where the curved portions thereof move out of registry with the slots and into engagement with the side walls of the carriers. Also, the pressure of the springs on the gripping pawls prevents displacement of the parts. The carriers are then engaged with the hooked ends 43 of the coil springs 5 and the hooks may be closed if desired. The carriers are then applied to the guide members by sliding them into the open upper ends of the spring housings, with the guide ribs 61 and 62 thereon passing within the grooves 31 and 32. The upper ends of the springs are then anchhored to the guides by passing the pins 39 through a pair of the registering openings 38, the openings being selected in accordance with the weight of the sash. The covers 101 are then moved into position to cover the open fronts of the sides of the guides which mount the inner sash. This is readily accomplished by passing the edges 102 and 103 into registry with the grooves 31 and 32. The resiliency of the metal retains the covers in position so that they do not slide out of their proper relation with the guide member. After placement of the covers, the sash stops 9S are similarly applied at the upper ends of the guides. The resilient backing members are then applied by placing the web portions 45 thereof in position to be forced between the spring housings 11 and ll2 until they seat under the corrugations 3i?, whereupon the backing members are attached to the guide members. The guide member at the opposite side of the frame, of course, is` not equipped with a resilient backing member, but the spring cover, pawl carrier' and sash stop are assembled in the guide member in the same manner. The brackets 6 and 7, together with the sash carriers 83, and the necessary fastening devices, such as the screws 41 and nails 85 and 9d, may be packaged with the assembled units.

When installing the assembled units, the fixed unit 2 is passed into the recess at the righthand side of the frame and secured at the upper and lower ends by the screws 4l. Upon tightening of the screws, the Vrear walls of the spring housings thereof seat against the face of the jamb, and the side flanges 13 and 14 form seals with the corresponding blind stop 108 and finish stop 109, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The brackets 6 and 7 are inserted within the upper and lower corners at the opposite sides of the frame, with the flanges 89 seating squarely against the inner face of the jamb and the ends iitting between the stops M8 and R09. When the brackets are in position, they are secured by driving the nails 9d through -the openings of the flanges S9 and into the jamb.

The movable unit 1 is then easily inserted by pressing the guide member over the ears 93, so that the ears pass into the lower open ends of the spring housings. The entire unit is then moved inwardly toward the jamb with suiiicient pressure being exerted on the upper ends so that the upper rear walls of the spring housings pass under the resilient tongues 92 of the upper bracket 6. When the wings Si) and 51 of the resilient backing member make contact with the jambs, the tongues S2 cooperate with the tongues 93 in retaining the assembly in position.

During placement of the asembled unit, the curved ends 25 of the side anges 13 and 14 pass readily into the recess at that side of the window and form seals with the stops lie and 1&9. rl`he tangential contact points 53 of the wings Sil and 51 also form weather-seals with the face of the jamb, so as to close air passageways between the jainb and the assembled unit.

The pawl carriers are preferably moved downwardly within the spring housings to load the springs and better position the ends or lever portions of the gripping pawls, so that they may be engaged with the sash connectors S3 which are now applied to the sash. lf the side edges of the sash have not been previously grooved, they are provided with shallow grooves, as shown. The connectors are then placed in the grooves with the plate portions thereof in contact with the bottom of the grooves and with the tongues S7 thereof in desired location with respect to the bottom edges of the sash. The nails 8S are then driven through the openings 84 in the plate portions of the connectors, and the sash are ready to be placed within the window.

The upper sash may be rst applied by pressing the lefthand edge thereof within the outer way of the movable guide, with the tongue 87 being located either above or below the tail portion or actuating arm 77 of the gripping pawls at that side of the window, and pressure is exerted laterally on the sash to compress the resilient backing element until the opposite side edge of the sash can pass into the corresponding way of the fixed unit. The pressure on the sash is then released so that the backing spring becomes effective in shifting the sash into sealing contact with the sashway of the xed guide, and the movable guide into sealing contact with that side of the sash. The sash may then be raised and lowered in the sashways so that the resilient tongue 37 slides olf one of the other ends of the carriers and into the openings 65 thereof, whereupon the rounded ends of the tongues ti seat upon the tail portions of the pawls, as shown in FIF. l, to rock the gripping pawls in position to release them from gripping engagement with the rear walls of the spring housings. Then, as the sash is lifted into position to close Athe upper portion of the window, the springs 5 become eiiective in assisting in movement of the sash. The inner sash is then applied to the inner ways in a similar manner, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and the window is moved up and down to make connection of the tongues 87 with the gripping pawls which support the inner sash.

After the connection is completed, the sash may be raised and lowered under action of the balancing springs.

When it is desirable to remove the sash, the inner sash is shifted laterally in the direction of the movable unit l to compress the backing spring, as shown in FlG. 4, until the opposite edge of the sash clears the back of the xed unit, whereupon the sash may be swung outwardly and removed from the frame. Immediately upon sliding of the tongues 8S from ori the outer ends of the tail portion 77 of the gripping pawls, the springs 67 are instantly effective to move the blade portions of the pawls into contact with the inner face of the rear walls of the spring housings, so that the edges 78 thereof bite slightly into the metal for holding the springs and preventing them from flying upwardly within their housings. ri`he gripping pawls or sash supporting members thus anchor the movable ends of the balance springs, therefore, the gripping pawls or sash supports are left in substantially the same position which they assumed when the sash was removed, so that the sash may be readily replaced and easily engaged to' effect release of the balance springs for balancing the sash.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A weather-seal guide and spring balance for removably mounting sash in a window frame, said weatherseal guide and spring balance including a guide member having a sashway on an inner face side thereof and having an open front spring housing projecting from the outer face side and in connection with the sashway through said open front, a balance spring within said spring housing of the guide member, means for connecting one end of the balance spring with one end of the spring housing, a slide carried ou the other end of the balance spring, means on the slide for gripping contact with a part of the spring housing opposite the open front thereof and having means for removably carrying a sash thereon to hold the gripping means out of gripping contact, and spring means separate from the balance spring to set the gripping means in said gripping contact upon removal of the sash, said slide and said spring housing having tongue and groove connections on opposite sides of said open front for backing the gripping means during said gripping contact.

2. A weather-seal guide and spring balance for removably mounting sash in a window frame, said weather-seal guide and spring balance including a guide member having a sashway on an inner face side thereof and having an open front spring housing projecting from the outer face side and in connection with the sashway through said open front, a balance spring within said spring housing of the guide member, means for connecting one end of the balance spring with one end of the spring housing, a slide carried on the other end of the balance spring, means on the slide for gripping contact with a part of the spring housing opposite the open front thereof and having means for removably carrying a sash thereon to hold the gripping means out of gripping contact, spring means separate from the balance spring to set the gripping means in said gripping Contact upon removal of the sash, said slide and said spring housing having tongue and groove connections on opposite sides of said open front for backing the gripping means during said gripping contact, and a spring cover for covering parts of the balance spring which are not covered by the sash and having side edges engaging in said grooves for retaining the spring cover.

Inv

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3. A weather-seal guide and spring balance for removably mounting sash in a window frame, said weather-seal guide and spring balance including a guide member having a sas'nway on an inner face side thereof and having an open front spring housing projecting from the outer face side and in connection with the sas'nway. through said open front, a balance spring within said spring housing of the guide member, means for connecting one end of the balance spring with one end of the spring housing, a slide carried on the other end of the balance spring, means on the slide for gripping contact with a part of the spring housing opposite the open front thereof and having means for removably carrying a sash thereoirto hold the gripping means out of gripping Contact, spring means separate from the balance spring to set the gripping means in said gripping contact upon removal of the sash, said slide and said spring housing having tongue and groove connections on opposite sides of said open front for backing the gripping means during said gripping contact, a spring cover for covering parts of the balance spring which are not covered by the sash and having side edges engaging in said grooves for retaining the spring cover, and a sash stop in the sashway having side edges engaging in said grooves above the spring cover.

4. ln a weather-seal guide and spring balance assembly for removably mounting sash in a window frame having side jarnbs, a sheet metal guide member having a central parting stop portion and inner and outer resilient flange portions adapted for sealing contact with said jambs and having projecting flange portions cooperating with the parting stop portion to provide sides of sasnways, said guide member also having spaced apart web portions on respective sides of the parting stop portion and respectively joining With the projecting flange portions and with the parting stop portion on longitudinal folds to provide bottoms of the sashways, said spaced apart webs being interconnected by open front spring housing portions having rear and side walls connected by longitudinal folds and said side walls being connected with the spaced apart web portions by longitudinal folds, said side walls having longitudinal corrugations coextensive with the last named folds, and a resilient backing member for lthe guide member and having a normally flat central portion bridging the parting stop portion between the spring housing portions and having inwardly converging flange portions providing folds adapted to engage under the corrugations to X said backing member to the guide member, and wings diverging from the converging flange portions for sealing contact with one of the side jambs of the frame.

5. In a weather-seal guide and spring balance assembly for removably mounting sash in a window fran-ie having side jambs, a sheet metal guide member having a central parting stop portion and inner and outer resilient flange portions adapted for sealing contact with said jarnbs and having projecting ange portions cooperating with the parting stop portion to provide sides of sashways, said guide member also having spaced apart web portions on respective sides of the parting stop portion and respectively joining with the projecting flange portions and with the parting stop portion on longitudinal folds to provide bottoms of the sashways, said spaced apart webs being interconnected by open front spring housing portions having rear and side walls connected by longitudinal folds and said side walls being connected with the spaced .apart web portions by longitudinal folds, said side walls having longitudinal corrugations coextensive with the last named folds and providing facing grooves within opposite sides of the open front spring housing portions, a resilient backing member for the guide member and having a normally flat central portion bridging the parting stop portion between the spring housing portions and having inwardly converging flange portions providing folds adapted to engage under portions of the corrugations to nx said backing member to the guide member, wings diverging from the converging flange portions for sealing contact l@ with one of the side jarnbs of the frame, anda cover for the open front of one of the spring housings and having side portions engaged in said grooves.

6. In a weather-seal guide and spring balance assembly for removably mounting sash in a window frame having side jambs, a sheet metal guide member having a central parting stop portion and inner and outer resilient ange portions adapted for sealing Contact with said jambs and having projecting flange portions cooperating with the parting stop portion to provide sides of sashways, said guide member also having spaced apart web portions on respective sides of the parting stop portion and respectively joining with the projecting flange portions and with the parting stop portion on longitudinal folds to provide bottoms of the sashways, said spaced apart webs being interconnected by open front spring housing portions having rear and side walls connected by longitudinal foldsy and said side walls being connected with the spaced apart web portions by longitudinal folds, said side walls having longitudinal corrugations coextensive with the last named folds and providing facing grooves within opposite sides of the open front spring housing portions, a resilient backing member for the guide member and having a normally flat central portion bridging the parting stop portion be tween the spring housing portions and having inwardly converging flange portions providing folds adapted to engage under portions of the corrugations to fix said backing member to the guide member and having Wings diverging from the converging flange portions for sealing contact with one of the side jambs of the frame, a cover for the open front of one of the spring housings and having side portions engaged in said grooves, and a sash stop above the cover and having side portions also engaged in said grooves.

7. A weather-seal guide and spring balance for mounting sash in a window frame having side jambs and inner and outer stops forming recesses in facing sides of the janibs, said weather-seal guide and spring balance including a sheet metal guide member having a central parting stop portion and inner and outer resilient flange portions adapted for sealing contact with said stops and having projecting portions cooperating with the parting stop portion to provide sides of sashways, said guide member also having spaced apart web portions respectively joining with the projecting portions and with the parting stop portions on longitudinal folds to provide bottoms of the sashways, said spaced apart webs being interconnected by spring housing portions having rear and side wall portions with the side wall portions connected with the web portions by longitudinal folds for providing open front passageways in connection with the sashways, said side walls having longitudinal coi'rugations coextensive with the last named folds and providing inwardly facing grooves along sides of the passageways and external ribs, balance springs within said spring housing portions of the guide member, means for connecting upper ends of the balance springs within upper ends of the spring housing portions, gripping means adapted to grip the rear walls of the spring housing portions and having lever means for supporting the sash thereon, carriers for the gripping means and having connection with the lower ends of the springs for sliding movement in said housing portions, means for supporting the gripping means in the spring carriers in gripping contact with said rear walls of the spring housing portions and the lever means being presented in said open front passageways for Contact therewith by a part on the sash to connect the sash with the balance springs and hold the gripping means out of gripping contact when the sash are carried on said lever arms, springs bearing on the gripping means and tending to urge said gripping contact with the rear walls of the spring housings for holding the balance springs in stretched condition upon removal of the sash from the lever arms, and guide ribs on the carriers having sliding engagement in said grooves to retain the carriers under thrust of the gripping means.

8. A weather-seal guide and spring balance for removenvases ably mounting a sash in a Window frame, said Weatherseal guide and spring balance including a guide member having a sashway on an inner face side thereof and havin-g an open front spring housing projecting from the other face side and in connection with the sashway through said open front, a balance spring Within the spring housing of the guide member, means for connecting one end of the balance spring with one end of the spring housing, the other end of the balance spring being normally movable longitudinally within said spring housing, a sash supporting member in the spring housing and movable with the movable end of said balance spring, a slide member movable in the spring housing with the movable end of the balance spring and mounting the sash supporting member for shifting movement therein responsive to engagement and disengagement of the sash, and gripping means movable in said slide into and out of gripping contact with a part of the spring housing opposite the open front thereof upon shifting movement of the sash supporting member relatively to said slide member to hold said movable end of the spring in iixed position in the spring housing when the supporting member is free of the sash and to release said movable end of the spring for movement in the spring housing when the sash supporting member is engaged by the sash, said spring housing having facing grooves on opposite sides of said open front and said slide member having tongues slidably engaged in said grooves for backing the gripping means during said gripping contact with said part of the spring housing.

9. A Weather-seal guide and spring balance for removably mounting a sash a Window frame, said weatherseal guide and spring balance including a guide member having a sashway on an inner face side thereof and a spring housing having side Walls projecting from the other face side and provided by substantially right-angular folds to provide an open front across the entire Width of the spring housing and said side walls being connected by a rear wall portion conforminfy in width to said open front, a balance spring within the spring housing of the guide member, means for connecting one end of the balance spring with one end of the spring housing, the other end of the balance spring being movable longitudinally Within said spring housing, a sash supporting member, a slide member movable in spring housing with the movable end of the spring and having opposite sides in contact with the side walls ot the spring housing, means for mounting the sash supporting member' for movement in the slide member, and gripping means in said slide member and movable into and out of gripping contact with the rear fvall of the spring housing upon movement of the sash supporting member relativeiy to said slide member to hold said movable end oi the spring in ixed position in the spring housing when Weight of the sash is removed from the sash supporting member and to release said removable end of the spring ror movement in the spring housing when the sash supporting member is under load of the sash, said side Walls of the spring housing having facing grooves extending longitudinally of the guide member and sides ot' the slide member having tongues sli-dably engaged in said grooves for backing the gripping means during said gripping Contact with the rear wall. of the spring housing.

lf). A weather-seal guide and spring balance for removably mounting sash in a window frame, said weatherseal guide and spring balance including a sheet metal guide member having a central ptt-ting stop portion and inner and outer resilient flange portions adapted for sealing Contact with said Window trarne at the sides of the Window frame and having projecting flange portions cooperating With the parting stop portion to provide sides of sashways, said guide member also having spaced apart web portions on respective sides of the parting stop portion and respectively joining with the projecting flange portions and With the parting stop portion on longitudinal folds to provide bottoms of the sashvvays, said spaced apart Webs being interconnected by open front spring housing portions having rear and side Walls connected by longitudinal folds and said side Walls being connected with the spaced apart web portions by longitudinal right angular folds to provide the open front across the entire width of the spring housing, said side walls having longitudinal corrugations immediately joining and coextensive with the last named folds for providing inwardly facing grooves within said housing portions extending along sides of the open fronts of the spring housing portions, balance springs within said spring housing portions of the guide member, means for connecting upper ends of the balance springs within upper ends of the spring housings, carriers connected to lower ends of the balance springs and having longitudinal sliding movement in said spring housing portions and having recessed portions projecting through said open fronts beyond said web p0rtions of the guide member, gripping means adapted to grip the rear Walls of the spring housing portions and having lever arms, means for supporting the gripping means pivotally in the said carriers with the lever arms projecting from said recessed portions, said gripping means being rockable into and out of contact with said rear Walls of the spring housing portions upon disengagement and engagement of the sash with the lever arms, and springs in said carriers having bearing engagement vith the gripping means for urging said gripping means into contact with the said rear walls independently of said balance springs upon disengagement of the sash for holding the balance springs in stretched condition, said carriers having guide ribs slidable within said inwardly facing grooves to bach the carriers under thrust of the gripping means upon the rear Walls of said housing portions.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNlTED ST TES PATENTS 

1. A WEATHER-SEAL GUIDE AND SPRING BALANCE FOR REMOVABLY MOUNTING SASH IN A WINDOW FRAME, SAID WEATHERSEAL GUIDE AND SPRING BALANCE INCLUDING A GUIDE MEMBER HAVING A SASHWAY ON AN INNER FACE SIDE THEREOF AND HAVING AN OPEN FRONT SPRING HOUSING PROJECTING FROM THE OUTER FACE SIDE AND IN CONNECTION WITH THE SASHWAY THROUGH SAID OPEN FRONT, A BALANCE SPRING WITHIN SAID SPRING HOUSING OF THE GUIDE MEMBER, MEANS FOR CONNECTING ONE END OF THE BALANCE SPRING WITH ONE END OF THE SPRING HOUSING, A SLIDE CARRIED ON THE OTHER END OF THE BALANCE SPRING, MEANS ON THE SLIDE FOR GRIPPING CONTACT WITH A PART OF THE SPRING HOUSING OPPOSITE THE OPEN FRONT THEREOF AND HAVING MEANS FOR REMOVABLY CARRYING A SASH THEREON TO HOLD THE GRIPPING MEANS OUT OF GRIPPING CONTACT, AND SPRING MEANS SEPARATE FROM THE BALANCE SPRING 